Composition, Roughness, and Topography from Radar Backscatter at Selk Crater, the Dragonfly Landing Site

The Selk crater region is the future landing site of NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan. The region was imaged by the Cassini RADAR at incidence angles from 5 degrees to 72 degrees and at various polarization angles. Using this data set, we mapped six terrain units and assembled a backscatter curve for each, providing normalized backscatter cross section (sigma (0)) as a function of incidence angle. By fitting these backscatter curves with a sum of a quasi-specular and diffuse terms and evaluating three alternative formulations of the first and two for the second, we extracted the best-fit surface effective dielectric constant, rms slope, and scattering albedo. Although the parameters' absolute values are model dependent, relative values between terrains indicate real variations in surface properties. The results are consistent with the impact exposing and fracturing a low-loss tangent material such as the water-ice bedrock, which is likely also present in the hummocky terrains and to a lesser degree in the plains and interdune regions. The dunes and dark terrains are composed of smooth, uniform material with low dielectric constant (1.5-2.3 median values for all models) compatible with organic sand. A diffuse single-scattering model enabled independent derivation of the dielectric constant from high-incidence observations, leading to low values (<2) over all terrains, indicating a depolarizing (sub)surface. Finally, radarclinometry revealed lateral variations in rim height, which remains below 300 m along the SARTopo profile but reaches up to 600 m at other locations, hinting at a rim less eroded than previously thought.

Automated summary

This study utilizes radar imaging data from the Cassini spacecraft to map the Selk crater region on Titan. The results reveal variations in surface properties, indicating the exposure and fracturing of low-loss tangent materials, such as water-ice bedrock, due to impacts. The dunes and dark terrains are composed of smooth, uniform material with low dielectric constant, likely organic sand. This research provides valuable insights into the composition and geological history of Titan's surface.